Bafta row as End of the F------ World producer is told he can't have a winner's mask

The End of the F------ World - Netflix
The End of the F------ World - Netflix

A black television producer has complained that he was denied a Bafta trophy and told to buy his own winner’s certificate despite his show winning the award for best drama.

Dominic Buchanan is a creator of The End of the F----- World, the Channel 4 and Netflix show that beat The Crown, Gentleman Jack and Giri/Haji to the drama prize.

But he described himself as “a winner who has been made to feel like a loser” after being told he would not be receiving a mask statuette, as Bafta rules limit them to four named individuals per drama and he was not one of them.

Mr Buchanan accused Bafta of maintaining “archaic” rules that work against black film-makers who face a more difficult path to success in the industry.

Bafta said it would be reviewing the rules for next year’s ceremony.

“Imagine the devastation of being me, with everything I have achieved, and now not being able to get a copy of the actual Bafta award my show won,” Mr Buchanan said in an open letter, describing himself as "shattered" by the experience.

“Imagine the furthered trauma of being the only Black person on the entire eight-year journey for a successful show… and everyone who is going to get the physical Bafta is white.

“Was the decision to exclude me racist? No, I don’t need to reach for that, because that would be untrue. My white colleagues who will get their award actually deserve it, they put the hours in, to make the show what it is.

“But seriously… What type of madness is this? How am I to feel? With everything that has happened to me, how can I turn to people coming up behind me, specifically those of colour, and champion Bafta and the awards system?”

Bafta’s new chairman, Krishnendu Majumdar, has pledged to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry, and this year’s television awards were praised for the relatively high number of black and ethnic minority winners. They included The End of the F------ World’s Naomi Ackie, who won best supporting actress.

Dominic Buchanan - John Lamparski/WireImage
Dominic Buchanan - John Lamparski/WireImage

Mr Buchanan was approached eight years ago with the idea of adapting The End of the F------ World comic strip for the screen. In 2014, it was picked up by a television production company, Clerkenwell Films, and turned into a series for Channel 4 and Netflix with Dominic Buchanan Productions as co-producers.

The teen drama won instant acclaim and was first nominated for a Bafta in 2018. The rules stipulate that four people “who have made the most creative contribution to the programme” can be named when submitting a show for best drama.

Mr Buchanan agreed to forego his name being put forward as executive producer, giving that place on the list to someone from Clerkenwell Films, believing that he would be recognised in the event of a win.

However, when he contacted Bafta after the ceremony, he was told that only the four people named would receive a trophy.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes, they wouldn’t even allow me to buy a copy… oh, but I could purchase a winner’s certificate if I wanted that instead,” Mr Buchanan said.

He added that “film-makers of colour will never truly feel supported nor included until these institutions change rapidly”.

A Bafta spokesperson said: “Our current rules around candidates for nomination for the 2020 Television Awards are clear and the decision on who is put forward as a named representative of the production team is made by the entrant and not Bafta. In this instance, Dominic was not put forward.

“We continue to review our rules and eligibility criteria each year, and as part of our ongoing review the number of candidates for nomination is one of the elements under consideration.”